These are strange times. Schools, events, offices and even our local ski hills are shutting down because of COVID-19. Italy is in total lock-down, and we’re seeing videos of people singing from their apartment balconies and harmonizing with neighbors to pass the time. Resilience can show up in surprising, beautiful ways.
I’ll be curious to know what the history books have to say about this moment. Since about the time I wrote your last letter, the virus expanded out of China and has become a global pandemic. President Trump recently restricted travel to Europe. Governor Inslee cancelled schools statewide for six weeks and limited group gatherings affecting churches, concerts, etc. We cancelled your Mom’s trip to Australia next month to attend a wedding.
These are major bummers but intended to slow the spread of the virus, which has now caused nearly 6,000 deaths globally, mostly impacting the elderly. More than 150,000 people have confirmed cases. That’s very under-reported globally as tests are limited to mostly people who are hospitalized. There’s no vaccine yet. People are scared — and buying wartime supplies of toilet paper.
We’re not in a great spot geographically. The epicenters of the outbreaks happen to be in the greater Seattle area and northern Italy. It’s certainly odd to be an Italian-American right now and witnessing the real effects of this thing.
The silver lining of this moment is that I’m working from home full time and get to see you, Matteo and your Mom a lot more. The work-from-home dynamic has proven to be really effective, too. I’d argue I’m more productive at work and spend more time working because I’m not commuting. The work-life balance for me is at an all-time high. By the time you’re a professional read this back, I bet virtual working is at least as common as working at an office. I sure hope so. Virtual work has been around now for more than a decade thanks to technology, but it takes a moment like this to realize how efficient it really is.
Though your school is cancelled for the next six weeks, you have some work ahead yourself. We’ll figure out some homeschooling, and you’re starting up piano lessons. I am really excited about that. As you know, I learned to play guitar and bass guitar basically by ear, but piano is a super versatile instrument and reading music is something I never got around to and regret. It’s a selfish desire to have one or both of you excel at playing music and especially the piano. We found you a good teacher who is a woman, per your request, just down the street and I bet with your artistic sensibilities you’ll pick it up in no time.
I might try to learn a little piano at the same time. With all of this “public distancing” and minimal travel I’ve got to do something with my leisure time in the house, too. You teach me everything you learn and I’ll try to keep up. Deal? In exchange, I promise I won’t sing.
Love, Dad